The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-04-10

Sausalilo for some time, aud at last Tom
announced himself as able to take holt
day. They left San Rafael early one
delicious morning, Nell and Esther sit
ting side by side in the open carriage with
Tom in front driving. 1t was barely
eight O'Clock when they turned into the
level Ross Valley road that leads west
ward out of San Rafael. The sun was at
their backs, and the horses travelled
gayIy over the hard ground. The wood
ed hills rose high and solid on their left,
and on their right we're sunbrowned
eminences, with an occasional rolling gap
between. In front and far away, lay 10
blue perspective the mountain leading up
TO Tamalpais, against the paler blne Of
the sky. As they neared the turn of the
road w the little San Anselmo station,
old Tamalpais himself ourst upon tnem
majestic. solemn, the central and domi-
ant part f the picture. Ha lies like
giant asleep The outline of face, a
massive profile, can easily be traced in the
summit and having once become mani
fest, remains the most impressive feature
of the mountain.
They drove rapidly down the road
Southwark now, Tom jubilant and Esther
breaking every moment into a fresh en-
thusiasm, while little Mrs. Whitney"
breathed in the exhilaration of the air,
the rapturous beau y of the way, with
curious dull wonder that the world would
still be SO fair. Still southwark past the
yellow fields and dusty willows, With an
occasional harsh salute from a brilliant
feathered blue-jay or shy trill from an
unseen meadow-lark. The stream that
runs along by the road, through the winter
and spring, in trimming gladness, had
dwindled now 10 its meagre summer habit,
and the dry stones on its edges stood out
bare snd ugly, even in that tenderness of
early morning. A few carts logged past
with sleepy drivers and meditative steeds
on their way to San Rafael; surly, I'M
washed tramp ploGded unheedinglg along
the roadside, and the city-bound train
shrieksd and whistled by them into the
distance.
Still onward till Tamalpais was far be-
hind and the low land on their left be-
came stretch of reedy marsh, with
wandering lagoons that showed more
and more aud finally widensd into San
Francisco Bay. The road left the Dor
ders of the water and then returned,
wound in and out over little hills and down
again, the round magnificent curve of
the Bay and at last into Sausalito.
1t was very warm now and they went
directly to the Yacht CLUB House, where
Tom was familiar presence, and order
ed lunch. After lunch they sat on the
shady veranda overlooking the Bay. Nell
in reclining chair, Ten smoking, while
Esther read aloud When it grew cool.
er and Neil was rested Tom got little
boat and rowed them out over to Angel
Island and back again. They did not
return to the club house, but fastened
the boat at a point considerably beyond
and toward the ocean.
Esther was anxious to walk, feeling
the need of active exercise, and Nell
urged her and Tom to go, protesting that
she desired to stay alone awhile, as she
was very tired. 1t seemed to her that
seeing them, together would become I'M
endurable if she did not have moments
breathing time. After some demur they
consented, and Esther arranged the
cushions in the boat and wrapped
her own soft shawl about her before
they left. Nell watched them as they
began the accent of the hill--Esther,
a tall yonng goddess, erect
and walking with the easy swing
that tells of strong, 1.-the limbs and the
consciousness of leaping health in every
vein, and Tom, gay, light-hearsed, at her
side. They were to be gone two hours.
She closed her eyes that she might not see
them. and took up the old thread of
thought. He had never loved her. The
pain tugged at her heart until she pressed
her hand there to hold it still. 1t must
have been half an hour before she opened
her eyes again and saw that they had lust
reached the summit CT the hill.
AS she watched the silhcuettes of their
figures against the golden sky there come
to her an instantaneous realization of what
love and health could mean, strong and
vivid conception of what these two might
be to each other and the possibilities of
their life. 1t Was the supreme emotion of
her existence, as sudden a shifting of her
horizon as though death had taken her
hearts beloved. She saw her life with
Tom as it had really been, and his as it
might be with the other woman. That his
character precluded the nobility of the life
she conceived for him did not enter her
consciousness. She simply realized, with
the intensity of lifetime compressed into
a single moment, that for her everything
was at an end.
She had loosened the rope, and now she
lay quietly back among her cushions.
They could not see her. It would be an
hour and half before they returned.
After that one tremendous moment came
the reaction. Sue did not seem to think
at all, except to say, over and agaid
sit is better So +"
The boat rocked gently on the still water,
twisted and turned, and almost imperceptl-
bly, the distanse widened between her and
the shore. The tide was running out very
rapidly, and the boat went softly and easily
along with it. just then Ton and Esther
dis ppeared on the other side of the hill,
and she drifted round the point and set
her face toward the sea, alone. StraagelF
enough, no craft Of any kind passed her.
She was utterly alone She fixed her eyes
on the Golden Gate. She saw the ocean
beyond and the red sun going down into
the water. The Golden Gate 1t was the
cate of death of .averlasA 7, y sIasr Erg1obefb